altitude effects on maize growth period and quality traits
TRANSCRIPT
Acta Ecologica Sinica 33 (2013) 233–236
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Acta Ecologica Sinica
journal homepage: www.elsevier .com/locate /chnaes
Altitude effects on maize growth period and quality traits
Chen Xue-jun a,b, Cao Guang-cai c, Sun Qun d,e,f, Wu Dong-bin c, Chen Jing b, YU Ya-xiong g, Li Jie b,Li Wei a,⇑a College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR Chinab Gansu Jinxiang Agricultural Development Co. Ltd., Zhangye 734000, PR Chinac Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR Chinad Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR Chinae Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Genetic Improvement of Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100193, PR Chinaf Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Beijing 100193, PR Chinag Institute of Food Crop, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205, PR China
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history:Received 20 July 2011Revised 5 December 2012Accepted 9 May 2013
Keywords:Maize (Zea mays L.)AltitudeGrowth periodQuality traits
1872-2032/$ - see front matter � 2013 Ecological Sochttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2013.05.002
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 10 62732775; moE-mail addresses: [email protected] (C. Xue
(C. Guang-cai), [email protected] (S. Qun(W. Dong-bin), [email protected] (C. Jing),(YU Ya-xiong), [email protected] (L. Jie), [email protected]
In order to optimize maize production and variety utilization in high altitude areas, the growth periodand some quality traits of three maize varieties were compared among five elevations, 1280.0, 1506.5,1706.5, and 2000.0, 2231.5 m in Gansu province and three elevations, 1435.0, 1860.0, and 2186.0 m inYunnan province, China. This vertical ecological experiment was conducted in 2008 and 2009. The resultsshowed that the growth period of maize sowed at similar time was extended along with altitude elevat-ing, there was about 4–5 d extension with each 100 m increase in altitude. Both fat content and amylose/starch ratios had significant negative correlations with altitude, no correlation was found between crudeprotein content and altitude.
� 2013 Ecological Society of China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Maize crop is widely distributed between 50�N and 55�S [1],from sea level to altitudes of 4000 m all around the world [2]. InChina, maize can be cultivated from Turpan, below sea level, to re-gions with elevations greater than 3600 m [3]. Among the environ-mental factors that influence maize yield, altitude and latitude areas important as temperature [4]. Correlations between growth per-iod and altitude, along with their variability, are significant for cropproduction and related scientific research. There are several re-ports on the impact of altitude on maize quality from China andother countries [5–10]. Further exploration on the effects of alti-tude on maize growth period and grain quality traits could opti-mize the maize production scheme and variety utilization inhigh-altitude regions. The paper tested the impact on maizegrowth period and grain quality traits of two different regions ofaltitude in North and South China and vertical ecological regionsduring different years. This research further confirmed the
iety of China. Published by Elsevie
bile: +86 1365234732.-jun), [email protected]), [email protected]
[email protected] (L. Wei).
correlations between altitude and maize variety growth period aswell as some grain quality traits.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Tested varieties
The seeds of three maize varieties – Zhongdan No. 2, JinxiangNo. 3 and Nongda 108 were obtained from Zhangye, Gansu Prov-ince in 2007, the main maize seed production region in China.
2.2. Locations
The high-latitude and high-altitude group in North China wasset in Zhangye, Gansu province. The geographic coordinates were38�560N and 100�260E. Five locations of altitude (1280.0 m,1506.5 m, 1706.5 m, 2000.0 m and 2231.5 m) were chosen as rep-resentative regions of maize production. These five locationsspanned maize production regions of approximately 3.667 mil-lion hm2. The low-latitude and low-altitude group in South Chinawas set in Dayao county, Chuxiong, Yunnan province. Thegeographic coordinates were approximately 26�N and 101�E. Threelocations of altitude (1435.0 m, 1860.0 m and 2186.0 m) werechosen as representative regions of maize production. These three
r B.V. All rights reserved.
234 C. Xue-jun et al. / Acta Ecologica Sinica 33 (2013) 233–236
locations spanned maize production regions of approximately1.167 million hm2.
2.3. Methods
Field plot experiments were carried out in eight replicated testsin 2008 and 2009. Each plot was 4 m � 5 m, and contained 8 rowsspaced 50 cm apart. Each of two border rows was located at a dis-tance of 25 cm from the edge of the plot at the lower point of alti-tude. Based on a density of 3500 plants/667 m2, each plot had 105plants and each row had about 13 plants. The distance betweenplants was 38 cm. This experiment was repeated twice. In theNorth region, the 2008 sowing period was from April 21st to24th, the 2009 sowing date at altitudes 1280 m and 1506 m wasApril 19th, the remaining three altitude treatments were sownon April 20th. The South region was only studied in 2009, withsowing dates from May 19th to 25th. The preceding crop for theNorth plantings was spring wheat, which was under the manage-ment of local high-yield production methods. Soil moisture waspreserved in early spring and the seeds were sown after smoothingthe land. The base fertilizers were farm manure (30,000 kg hm�2),diammonium orthophosphate (375 kg hm�2) and urea(150 kg hm�2). Throughout the growing season, the plants werewatered periodically. The plants were hoed twice in dry soil andonce in wet soil to remove weeds, then seedlings were thinnedonce, established once and top dressed twice. Urea and diammo-nium orthophosphate (600 kg hm�2) were included in watering.The South test regions were similarly managed.
Maturation times were recorded at the black line stage andgrowth period was expressed relative to sow dates. After pollina-tion of the central four rows in each test location, ears werebagged. Crude protein, crude fat, crude starch, and amylase/crudestarch of ripe seed were tested by the Grain Quality Supervisionand Testing Center of the Chinese Agriculture Ministry.
The data were statistically analyzed by regression analysis withSAS (Statistical Analysis System, Cary, NC, USA) software V6.12.
3. Results
3.1. Altitude effects on growth period
3.1.1. North regionThe days from seedling emergence to maturation time is
recorded as ‘‘growth period’’. In 2008, the growth period of thetested varieties increased along with higher altitudes (Table 1).As the latitude and longitude of this high altitude group was fixed,with five variant points of altitude, analysis of the relationshipbetween altitude and maize variety and growth period could be
Table 1The growth period(d) of maize in of the North region, Gansu province.
Year Variety Elevation (m)
1280.0 1506.5 1706.5 2000.0 2231.5
2008 ZhongdanNo. 2
133.0 133.0 138.0 153.0 162.0
JinxiangNo. 3
123.0 132.0 133.0 154.0 167.0
Nongda108
137.0 141.0 144.0 165.0 169.0
2009 ZhongdanNo. 2
131.5 138.0 141.0 157.0 169.0
JinxiangNo. 3
120.0 136.0 138.0 155.0 167.5
Nongda108
135.0 147.5 152.0 168.0 175.0
considered unary. With altitude as the independent variable andgrowth period as the dependent variable, the regression equationsof the three varieties were as follows:
Zhongdan No: 2 : y ¼ 86:2074þ 0:0330x r ¼ 0:9589��
Jinxiang No: 3 : y ¼ 60:6891þ 0:0465x r ¼ 0:9747��
Nongda 108 : y ¼ 86:1281þ 0:0373x r ¼ 0:9627��
All three maize varieties showed significant positive correla-tions between the growth period and altitude (P < 0.01). For every100 m increase in altitude, the growth period of maize was delayedfor 4 d. In 2009, the same trends were observed (Table 1). Thegrowth period of each variety was significantly lengthened with in-creased altitude. With altitude as the independent variable andgrowth period as the dependent variable, the regression equationsof three varieties were as follows:
Zhongdan No: 2 : y ¼ 78:1511þ 0:0396x r ¼ 0:9808��
Jinxiang No: 3 : y ¼ 59:9258þ 0:0478x r ¼ 0:9884��
Nongda 108 : y ¼ 82:0778þ 0:0421x r ¼ 0:9939��
The 2008 and 2009 results were consistent. At a certain latitudeand longitude, the growth period of maize lengthens or shortenswith changing altitude with a significant positive correlation.When the altitude increases or decreases by 100 m, the growthperiod of maize lengthens or shortens, respectively, by 4–5 d.
3.1.2. South regionIn the low-latitude and high-altitude treatment in Yunnan
province, with the same sowing period between two treatmentswith altitudes of 1435 m and 2186 m, the maturation times ofthree varieties at high-altitude were significantly delayed (30 d,23 d and 11 d) (Table 2). On the whole, results reflected that withincreased altitude, the maturation time of maize was delayed. Theanalysis of correlations between growth period and altitude indi-cated that:
rðZhongdan No: 2Þ ¼ 0:8967
rðJinxiang No: 3Þ ¼ 0:9173
rðNongda 108Þ ¼ 0:9818�
There was a positive correlation between growth period andaltitude. The overall trend was the same as that in the North re-gion, that is, at a certain latitude and longitude, with an increasein altitude, the maturation time of maize was correspondinglydelayed.
3.2. Altitude effects on quality traits
3.2.1. Changes in protein and fat content of seed3.2.1.1. North region. Crude protein: For each altitude, the averageprotein content among the three varieties was calculated. Thecorrelation between average protein content and elevation was
Table 2The growth period(s) of maize in of the South region, Yunnan province.
Year Variety Elevation (m)
1435.0 1860.0 2186.0
2009 Zhongdan No. 2 85.0 90.0 118.0Jinxiang No. 3 83.0 88.0 108.0Nongda 108 90.0 96.0 105.0
Table 4Crude protein content and crude fat content of maize in the South region, Yunnanprovince.
Year Variety Elevation(m)
Crude protein (dryweight)%
Crude fat (dryweight)%
2009 ZhongdanNo. 2
1435.0 10.07 3.791860.5 10.18 3.922186.5 10.04 3.27
JinxiangNo. 3
1435.0 10.36 3.351860.5 10.12 3.442186.5 10.68 3.01
Nongda108
1435.0 8.96 3.911860.5 9.10 4.952186.5 8.92 3.53
C. Xue-jun et al. / Acta Ecologica Sinica 33 (2013) 233–236 235
not significant in 2008 (r = 0.2225) or in 2009 (r = 0.0863) (Table 3).There were no correlations observed between protein content ofmaize and altitude (Table 3).
Crude fat: In 2008, the analysis of the correlation between fatcontent of variety and altitude indicated that r (Zhongdan No.2) = �0.8417� P < 0.05, r (Jinxiang No. 3) = �0.7722 and r (Nongda108) = �0.7518. Collectively, these results indicated that with in-creased altitude, the crude fat content was slightly reduced. Atthe second highest and highest altitudes, fat content of seeds werethe second lowest and the lowest, respectively.
In 2009, the correlation between fat content of variety and alti-tude indicated that r (Zhongdan No. 2) = �0.4091, r (Jinxiang No.3) = �0.6856 and r (Nongda108) = �0.9935 (P < 0.01). Overall withincreased altitude, the crude fat content decreased (Table 3).
The experimental results of 2 years supported the hypothesisthat altitude is negatively correlated with fat content.
Table 5Starch content of maize in of the North region Gansu province.
Year Variety Elevation(m)
Crude starch (dryweight)%
Amylose/crude starch(dry weight)%
2008 ZhongdanNo. 2
1280.0 71.20 25.691506.5 71.61 22.131706.5 72.59 26.342000.0 71.87 21.312231.5 71.38 19.54
JinxiangNo. 3
1280.0 75.36 26.551506.5 75.70 25.891706.5 75.29 26.592000.0 74.81 18.96
3.2.1.2. South region. Crude protein: Correlation analysis indicatedthat there is was no relationship between average protein contentof the three varieties and altitude (Table 4), which was consistentwith results from the North region.
Crude fat: Correlation analysis between crude fat content andaltitude showed that r (Zhongdan No. 2) = �0.7041, r (JinxiangNo. 3) = �0.6972 and r (Nongda 108) = �0.1844 (P > 0.05). Thelocation with the highest altitude showed the lowest content ofcrude fat, which was consistent with the findings in the Northregion.
2231.5 74.23 18.03Nongda108
1280.0 73.28 26.691506.5 72.70 19.691706.5 71.80 25.222000.0 71.90 24.262231.5 69.67 17.78
2009 ZhongdanNo. 2
1280.0 69.46 25.031506.5 74.68 25.71
3.2.2. Changes in crude starch and amylose/crude starch content3.2.2.1. North region. Crude starch: Analysis of 2008 data whereaverage crude starch content of three varieties was correlated withaltitude gave an r value of �0.8647 (P < 0.05) (Table 5). Calculatedindependently for each variety, r (Jinxiang No. 3) = �0.8874
Table 3Crude protein content and crude fat content of maize in of the North region, Gansuprovince.
Year Variety Elevation(m)
Crude protein (dryweight)%
Crude fat (dryweight)%
2008 ZhongdanNo. 2
1280.0 10.77 4.171506.5 10.69 4.211706.5 9.95 4.232000.0 9.29 4.032231.5 10.48 3.86
JinxiangNo. 3
1280.0 9.86 3.701506.5 10.04 3.891706.5 10.25 3.712000.0 9.94 3.652231.5 10.78 3.31
Nongda108
1280.0 9.78 4.631506.5 9.08 4.781706.5 10.33 4.512000.0 9.07 4.612231.5 10.95 4.15
2009 ZhongdanNo. 2
1280.0 10.20 4.431506.5 8.76 3.311706.5 11.62 4.282000.0 9.73 2.872231.5 10.72 3.85
JinxiangNo. 3
1280.0 9.79 3.581506.5 9.64 3.541706.5 9.71 3.672000.0 9.23 3.572231.5 10.31 2.98
Nongda108
1280.0 9.66 4.661506.5 9.28 4.571706.5 10.73 4.342000.0 8.56 4.132231.5 9.48 3.96
1706.5 66.88 25.622000.0 74.73 24.702231.5 69.87 24.93
JinxiangNo. 3
1280.0 74.48 25.321506.5 75.06 24.471706.5 74.87 26.032000.0 74.88 24.692231.5 73.38 24.84
Nongda108
1280.0 71.23 26.911506.5 71.44 25.531706.5 71.46 25.742000.0 72.68 24.672231.5 70.71 24.70
(P < 0.05), and r (Nongda 108) = �0.9190 (P < 0.05). During thisyear, there were significant negative correlations between crudestarch content and altitude for two of the three varieties.
In 2009, there were no correlations between crude starch con-tent and altitude (Table 5).
Combining the results of 2 years, there was a weak relationshipbetween crude starch content and altitude.
Amylose/crude starch: In 2008, the correlation between theaverage amylase/crude starch content of the three varieties andaltitude was analyzed, the r value was 0.8297. Calculated by vari-ety, r (Zhongdan No. 2) = �0.7426, r (Jinxiang No. 3) = �0.9035(P < 0.05), and r (Nongda 108) = �0.3628 (P < 0.05). With in-creased altitude, seed amylase/crude starch content decreased(Table 5). At the highest altitude, the content of seed amylasewas the lowest.
From the 2009 correlation analysis it was found that r (averageof three varieties) = �0.7749, r (Zhongdan No. 2) = �0.4712, r(Jinxiang No. 3) = �0.2323 and r (Nongda 108) = �0.9127
Table 6Starch content of maize in of the South region Yunnan province.
Year Variety Elevation(m)
Crude starch (dryweight)%
Amylose/crude starch(dry weight)%
2009 ZhongdanNo. 2
1435.0 71.85 27.651860.5 72.04 28.012186.5 72.61 24.94
JinxiangNo. 3
1435.0 74.27 27.361860.5 74.37 24.692186.5 73.40 26.58
Nongda108
1435.0 74.28 27.571860.5 74.25 27.252186.5 74.62 25.15
236 C. Xue-jun et al. / Acta Ecologica Sinica 33 (2013) 233–236
(P < 0.05). On the whole, there was a negative trend between seedamylase content and altitude. At the highest altitude, the amylasecontent of seed was the lowest.
3.2.2.2. South region. Crude starch: Table 6 shows the data collectedin 2009. Correlation analysis of crude starch content and altitudeshowed r (Zhongdan No. 2) = 0.9370, r (Jinxiang No. 3) = �0.7691and r (Nongda 108) = 0.7822. These values agreed with those ob-served in the North region, there was no clear relationship betweencrude starch content and altitude.
Amylose/crude starch: The correlation coefficient r (average ofthree varieties) between seed amylase/crude starch and alti-tude = �0.9903 (P < 0.01), r (Zhongdan No. 2) = �0.7603, r (JinxiangNo. 3) = �0.3560 and r (Nongda 108) = �0.8881. In general, therewas a negative correlation and the result was consistent with theresult from the North region.
4. Conclusions
4.1. Relationship between maize growth period and altitude
The results indicated that the maturation times for seeds sownduring the same dates were delayed at higher altitudes.
Growth period is an important and basic feature of maize devel-opment. With increased altitude, the growth period of maize in-creases. The result is consistent with previous reports. There areseveral reports estimating quantitative relationships. In the samelatitudinal band of Equatorial Guinea, when the altitude is increasedby 100 m, the maturation time of maize is delayed by 7.6 d [5]. Caoand Wu conducted three replicated plot tests at four points of alti-tude with three hybrid maize varieties at altitudes ranging from800 to 1700 m on the loess plateau of Shanxi province at 37�530Nand 113�010E over 2 years [12]. The results showed that when thealtitude was increased by 100 m, the growth period of non-irrigatedmaize was delayed by 3–4 d. Dong et al. planted three hybrid maizevarieties on sunny slopes and shady slopes at altitudes of 600 m,900 m and 1500 m in North Sichuan province, 31�N and 104�E [7].The results showed that when the altitude was increased by100 m, the growth period of maize on the sunny slopes was delayedby 4 d and on the shady slopes was delayed by 3.2 d. The maize re-gional experiment in National Wuling Mountains found that thegrowth period of 25 varieties was positively correlated with alti-tude; for every 100 m increase in altitude, the growth period ofmaize was delayed by 3.55 d in 2003 and 2.85 d in 2004 [9].
The experimental design in the present study differs from pre-vious research in that the geographic range was large and both thefixed vertical initial altitudes and maximum altitudes were greater.
Nonetheless, the results obtained were similar to those previouslyreported. The research conclusion of this paper is that at a givenlatitude and longitude and with similar sow dates, there is a signif-icant (P < 0.01) positive correlation between the growth period ofmaize and altitude. When the latitude increased by 100 m, thegrowth period of maize (from seedling to maturity) was delayedby 4–5 d. This is mainly due to overall effects of temperature. Withincreased altitude, the temperature decreases, effectively length-ening the growth period. Collectively, research on the effects ofaltitude on the growth period of maize varieties has practicalimplications on choosing maize varieties for different latitudeand altitude regions.
4.2. Relationships of some quality characters of maize seeds andaltitude
Liu et al. found that starch content and soluble sugar content ofmaize seed decreased as altitude increased [10]. Some tested vari-eties in this experiment showed a negative correlation betweenseed crude starch content and altitude. However, the collective re-sults from 2008 to 2009 did not show a significant influence of alti-tude on starch content. We found negative correlations betweenseed amylase/crude starch and altitude. From this and other simi-lar research, we can conclude that to improve fat and starch con-tent, and especially the amylase content of maize seed, it isunfavorable to plant at high altitude regions. For high oil maizeand high amylase maize varieties, it had better to be planted atlow altitude regions.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Spark Program(2004EA860010), Gansu Province, Major Science and Technology(0801NKDG012).Gansu Science and Technology Talent ProjectFund 333.
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